on the water, than humans, gal;
if there is a key, there must be a place in which it is kept."

"That is true, and it might not be difficult to find it, did we dare to
search!"

"This is for you, Judith; it is altogether for you. The chist is your'n,
or your father's; and Hutter is your father, not mine. Cur'osity is a
woman's, and not a man's failing, and there you have got all the reasons
before you. If the chist has articles for ransom, it seems to me they
would be wisely used in redeeming their owner's life, or even in saving
his scalp; but that is a matter for your judgment, and not for ourn.
When the lawful owner of a trap, or a buck, or a canoe, isn't present,
his next of kin becomes his riprisentyve by all the laws of the woods.
We therefore leave you to say whether the chist shall, or shall not be
opened."

"I hope you do not believe I can hesitate, when my father's life's in
danger, Deerslayer!"

"Why, it's pretty much putting a scolding ag'in tears and mourning.
It's not onreasonable to foretell that old Tom may find fault with
what you've done, when he sees himself once more in his hut, here, but
there's nothing unusual in men's falling out with what has been done for
their own good; I dare to say that even the moon would seem a different
thing from what it now does, could we look at it from the other side."

"Deerslayer, if we can find the key, I will authorize you to open
the chest, and to take such things from it as you may think will buy
father's ransom."

"First find the key, gal; we'll talk of the rest a'terwards. Sarpent,
you've eyes like a fly, and a judgment that's seldom out. Can you help
us in calculating where Floating Tom would be apt to keep the key of a
chist that he holds to be as private as this?"

The Delaware had taken no part in the discourse until he was thus
directly appealed to, when he quitted the chest, which had continued to
attract his attention, and cast about him for the place in which a key
would be likely to be concealed under such circumstances. As Judith and
Deerslayer were not idle the while, the whole three were soon engaged in
an anxious and spirited search. As it was certain that the desired key
was not to be found in any of the common drawers or closets, of which
there were several in the building, none looked there, but all turned
their inquiries to those places that struck them as ingenious hiding
places, and more likely to be used for such a purpose. In this